Rail-fastener.



S. C. COLLINS.

RAIL FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.26. 1914.

Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 20., WASHINGTON, D. c.

S. C. COLLINS.

RAIL FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26, m4.

LMGMMW Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m Inventor Wad a Attorn eys SIMON, G. COLLINS, OF BAINIBRIDGE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 13, 1915..

Application filed August 26, 1914. Serial No. 858,714.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON C. CoLLrNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bainbridge, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rail-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a fastener, adapted to be assembled with a pair of railroad rails, to prevent the rail ends from having relative longitudinal movement.

The invention aims to provide novel means whereby the rails will be maintained assembled with the rail retainers, without piercing the rails for the reception of the common and well known securing bolts.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the several parts of the structure are interlocked and interengaged with each other.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood. that changes in the precise-embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan showing a device constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmental horizontal section of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the retaining key in Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the base plate; Fig. 5 is an elevation showing one side of one of the rail retainers; Fig.6 is a side elevationshowing the opposite face of the rail retainer depicted in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is'an elevation showing one side of the other rail retainer; Fig.8 is an elevation showing the opposite side of the rail retainer shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is an elevation showing a modified form of rail retainer; Fig. 10 is an end elevation showing a modified form of rail retainer; Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing a modified form of rail retainer; Fig. 12 is a cross section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11, the rail being shown as an added detail; Fig. 13 is a perspective delineating one of the wedges employed in that form of the invention which is shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the structure is shown as applied to a suspended joint. The ties are shown at 100 and upon each tie 100 is a base plate 101, the general outline of which will be understood best when Fig. 4 is examined.

Upstanding from each base plate 101 adjacent one end thereof is an abutment 102 sustained by a buttress 103. Upstanding from the base plate 101 adjacent the opposite end thereof is an abutment 104E sustained by a buttress 105. In the inner face of the abutment 10 1 is formed'a vertical notch 106 alined with a vertical opening in the base plate 101, the opening being indicated at 107 in Fig. 3. In one edge of the base plate 101 and adjacent one end of the abutment 102 is formed a notch 108 defining a shoulder 109. In the opposite edge of the base plate 101 there is a notch 110 defining a shoulder 111 which may be undercut or beveled as shown at 112. Located adjacent one end of the abutment 104 and upon the same edge of the base plate 101 as the shoulder 109 is a shoulder 114 which, at its end, is beveled longitudinally ofthe tie 100 as shown at 115.

The invention includes a rail retainer 116 extended between the ties 100. The rail retainer 116 embodies an upright flange 117, a horizontal flange 118 and a depending flange 119. In the depending flange 119 is formed an opening 120 and the horizontal flange 118 is cut away'above the opening 120 as shown at 120. Projecting from the flange 119 at one end ofthe opening 120 is a lug 121. The lug .121 may be removable and with this end in view the lug is equipped with a stem 122 which enters the flange 119 as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The flange 119 is provided with a beveled lug 123.

In practical operation, the rail retainer 116 may be placed transversely of the base plate 101, the lug 121 being passed downwardly through the notch 108 and the-rail retainer being drawn tothe right (reference being had to Fig. 8) until the lug 123 passes through the notch 110. Then, the ra1l retainer 116 is pushed to the right (referring to Fig. 4:) until the lug 121 passes beneath the shoulder 109, the beveled lug 123 oooperating with the beveledor undercut shoulder 112 on the plate 101. The foregoing presupposes that the lug 121 is not removable. ings, the lug 121 is removable, the lug 123 which may be hooked under the shoulder 111.112 and then the lug 121 may beinserted into the part 119, beneath the shoulder 109. The rail retainer 115 is now in lateral engagement with the abutment 102. The abutment 102 extends horizontally through the opening 120, so that a portion of the abutment 102 projects beyond the inner face of the rail retainer 116-as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The rail 124 is now placed on top of the base plate 101 and is moved laterally until a notch 125 in the flange of the rail receives that portion of the abutment 102 which projects inwardly beyond the inner face of the rail retainer 116, F 2 being noted.

It will now be seen that the rail retainer 116 cannot move transversely of the base plate 101 and that the rail 124 cannot move transversely of the base plate, because the rail in its notched portion 125 is interlocked with the inwardly projecting part of the abutment 102.

Against the rail 124 is placed a rail retainer 126 resembling in general outline the rail retainer 116, the. rail retainer 126 having a lug 127 which is engaged beneath the lug 114, the retainer being provided with a shoulder 128 which engages the opposite edge of the base plate 101. In the inner face of the rail retainer 126 there is formed a recess 129 receiving a tongue 130, formed in the flange of the rail 124 by cutting away portions of the flange of the rail, as shown at 130 In this manner, the rail is interlocked with the rail retainer 126. Along the outer face of the rail retainer 126 extends a rib 131. Between the rib 131 upon the one hand and the base plate 101 upon the other hand, and, horizontally considered, between the rail retainer 126 and the abutment 104 is driven a wedge 132. Noting Fig. '1 it will be observed that a vertical seat 133 is formed partly in the rail retainer 126 and partly in the wedge 132. At its top, this seatdeflnes an acute angle to the direction of the extent of the rail 124 butadjacent its lower end, the seat 133 extends substantially parallel to the direction of the length of the rail 124. Note the point at which the reference character 135 is applied in Fig. 2. Into the seat 133 is inserted a wedge or key 134 of tapered form This wedge interlocks the wedge 132 withthe rail retainer 126. As the wedge or key 134 is driven to a seat, the wedge is first given a twist, owing to the peculiar form of the seat 133, and then the lower end of the wedge or key 134 strikes the beveled face 115 of the shoulder 114 and is deflected transversely of the rail, as clearly shown in Fig.

If, however,'as shown in the drawof the retainer 203 there 3. Thus, the wedge not only is twisted, but is clenched at its lower end, a firm hold thus being secured.

In the outer face of the wedge 122 there is formed an upright groove 136 which coiiperates with the notch 106 in the abutment 104. The notch and the groove cotiperate to de fine an opening in which may be placed a spike 137 ,the latter extending downwardly through the base plate 101 and entering the tie. Note Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 9, the rail retainer is denoted generally by the numeral 140 and the upper edge of the retainer may be cut away as indicated at 141, where lightness is desired. Owing to the fact that the rail is cut away in its flanges, as shown at 130, the length of the base plate 101 measured longitudinally of the tie 100 may be diminished.

' When it is desired to carry the invention to-its ultimate limit, so far as reducing the bulkiness of the device is concerned, the re tainer 2000f Fig. 10 may be used on the wedge side of the structure, this retainer being a relatively thinplate of the same thickness from end to end saving for the wedge receiving rib 201.

In Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, the rail is denoted by the numeral 202 and the wedge receiving retainer is denoted by the reference character 203. In the lower edge is formed a notch 204. This notch receives the tongue 130 of Fig. 2. The shoulders which coiiperate with the base plate are delineated at 205. A depending lug 206 on the retainer is received in the right hand opening 130 of Fig. 2. The lug 206 is prolonged longitudinally of the retainer, as shown at 208 so as to engage beneath the base flange of the rail. As shown at 207 in Fig. 12, the part 208 is extended transversely of the rail 202 and passes beneath the flange of the rail. Noting the point at which the reference character 209 is applied in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the retainer 203 overhangs theupper face of the flange of the rail. Owing to the construction above described, the rail is reinforced and sustained. The outer face of the retainer 203 is beveled as shown at 210 to define the wedge receiving rib 211, the wedge (not shown) of course being altered in outline to conform properly with the bevel 210.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a base plate having abutments; rail retainers disposed between the abutments; a rail between-the retainers having a recess; and a holding means interposed between one retainer and one abutment, the other abutment being extended through the other retainer and being engaged within the recess of the ra1 2. In a device of the class described, a base plate having abutments; rail retainers disposed between the abutments; a rail between the retainers having a recess; a holding means interposed between one retainer and one abutment, the other abutment being extended through the other retainer and being engaged in the recess of the rail, the retainers having depending shoulders which coact with the opposite edges of the base plate.

3. In a device of the class described, a base plate having an abutment; a tie on which the base plate rests; a wedge cooperating with the abutment; a rail against which the wedge exerts a pressure; rail engaging means for withstanding the pressure of the wedge; the wedge and the abutment being provided in their cooperating faces with grooves defining an opening, and a securing element mounted in the opening and extended through the base plate into engagement with the tie.

4. In a device of the class described, a rail; and a pair of relatively movable rail holding elements, one of which elements en'- gages one side of the rail, said elements being provided in their adjacent faces with seats; and a key in the seats; the seats being distorted to effect a circumferential twisting of the key when the same is driven in place.

Cortes of this patent may be obtained for 5. In a device of the class described, a base plate having an inclined face; a rail; a pair of relatively movable rail retaining elements provided in their abutting faces with cooperating seats; and a key in the seats, the lower end of the key being deflected across said inclined face of the base plate; the seats being distorted to efiect a circumferential twisting of the key when the same is driven toward the inclined face of the base plate.

6. In a device of the class described, a base plate having an abutment; a wedge 00- operating with the abutment, one edge of the wedge and the abutment being provided with cooperating seats; a retaining device in the seats; a rail retainer abutting against the wedge, the rail retainer and the wedge being provided with cooperating openings; a key in the last specified openings; a rail engaging the rail retainer along one edge of the rail; and means on the base plate for engaging the other edge of the rail.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SIMON o. COLLINS.

mark Witnesses:

G. BARR SPANGLER, C. H. MUSSELMAN.

Washington, D, G. 

